On Tuesday, Domino's grandmother, Frances Thomas, said her grandson "was nervous ... and always upset." She speculated that he likely had mental health issues, but she wasn't aware of any official diagnosis.

Nonetheless, Thomas said, she had no inkling her grandson's life was going to end the way it did. "Last time I saw him, he picked me some greens in the garden and washed them," Thomas said. "I didn't think he had anything like (what occurred) in mind."

About 3 p.m. Monday, Domino, the father of three children, entered the library in the 5600 block of Read Boulevard and robbed two employees at gunpoint, police said. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash in money bags, which he stuffed into a black backpack.

The robbery victims provided a description of the thief, and police officers began to search the area. They spotted and tried to detain Domino, who matched the description broadcast over the police radio. Domino ran into an alleyway on Seawood Street, off the 5000 block of Read.

Fearing Domino might still be armed, officers ordered him to come out and show his hands, police said. He did not comply, so officers called for help from a K9 unit. As the K9 unit was entering the alleyway, police heard a single gunshot.
Domino had fired a bullet into his head and died, said John Gagliano, the New Orleans coroner's chief investigator. The NOPD's Public Integrity Bureau and the independent police monitor are reviewing the case.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Monday did not mark Domino's first encounter with police. On Nov. 16, 1992, He fired a gun three times at officer Tommie Felix, who was investigating a report of gunfire in the 1000 block of Melpomene Street and tried to question Domino. Domino was subsequently arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and received a two-year prison sentence. Meanwhile, two men Domino had been seen with earlier that day were booked on crack cocaine-related charges.

Years later, Felix, while off-duty, drove off the Judge Seeber Bridge and plunged to his death on May 20, 2008. The bridge operator working the day of Felix's death was booked with negligent homicide, but prosecutors later dropped the charge, records show.

Domino clashed with police again on Sept. 30, 1996. The NOPD said he broke into his former girlfriend's house in the 5200 block of Beaucaire Street, confronted her with an assault weapon, and took her and their child, then age 3, hostage. Eight other people escaped from the house, most of them through a bedroom window, and one called the police.

Domino surrendered several hours after a SWAT team surrounded the house. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, second-degree kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

According to Thomas, Domino -- who was convicted of marijuana possession in 2009 and given probation -- had been working at odd jobs recently. Asked whether there was anything in particular she wanted the public to know about Domino, Thomas said, "I love him. I love him."